Securing Reproductive Rights

I firmly believe that women should make their own health care decisions—not politicians.

In June 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, undoing 50 years of legal precedent and triggering a string of extreme state abortion bans to go into effect.

These laws severely restrict women's access to safe, legal abortions. While some states have shortened the time period in which a pregnant person could get an abortion, others will be banning the procedure entirely.

Abortion will remain legal in Washington, but we are not immune from the consequences of this decision. Abortion providers are bracing for a surge in out-of-state patients seeking care. Even more alarming, Republicans in Congress have made it crystal clear that if they win the majority this fall, they will pursue a nationwide abortion ban.

As long as these attacks continue, I will continue to stand against efforts to weaken or subvert access to safe abortions and vital family planning services for women everywhere.

I have consistently opposed dangerous, ideologically driven efforts that would endanger women’s health and undermine their access to the full range of reproductive health services, including abortion. I am a leader on the House Pro-Choice Caucus, and I am also an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act.

The House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act with my support by a vote of 218 to 211. The Women's Health Protection Act would prohibit any law that places unnecessarily burdensome restrictions on a woman's access to abortion services.

The bill failed to garner enough votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster. It is absolutely critical that the Senate move on this legislation. That’s why I called for the Senate to remove the filibuster to be able to pass this important bill. I will continue working with my colleagues to find every possible avenue to protect and strengthen access to reproductive health services across the country.

The consequences of striking down Roe are far-reaching. Because our tech laws are so behind, the personal information of millions of women is at risk. Law enforcement officials or even community members could purchase and abuse data—including internet searches, health app data, and other information related to a woman’s pregnancy status—that could be used to target women seeking abortions and medical professionals. That’s why I have been fighting for a strong national consumer data privacy standard.

We must keep fighting to expand access to reproductive care including abortion care and protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions.

(Photo: Ted Warren / AP)